Sexual minorities: key points

  • The term ‘LGB’ refers to Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual people. Data collection on other sexual and gender minorities is currently insufficient to characterise the size or health of these groups.
  • In the 2019 Scottish Surveys Core Questions 2019 (SSCQ)), 2.7% of respondents self-identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual or other. 
  • The UK-wide 2020 Annual Population Survey found that 3.1% of all respondents, and 3.0% of Scottish respondents, self-identified as gay, lesbian.
  • The majority of health service research studies involving LGB people have concentrated on sexual health issues, although it is likely that other health issues are of equal or greater importance.
  • Cross-sectional surveys from England and Wales have found that LGB people are more likely to report mental health problems than heterosexual people.
  • The SSCQ 2017 also found that mental wellbeing is lower among LGB people in Scotland, compared to those who identify as heterosexual.
  • The main obstacle to better routine health information about LGB people is that, until recently, they were not separately identified in routine health surveys or in most population based research studies. 

Section updates:

  • The last major update of this section was completed in April 2023.
  • The next major update is due to be carried out by end September 2024.